Seedless table grape (grapevine) named &#39;arratwentyfour&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new distinct variety of grapevine named ARRATWENTYFOUR abundantly forms attractive moderately firm seedless berries with an attractive purple-black skin coloration; in semi-tight clusters which display a naturally sweet flavor. The fruit commonly is ready for harvesting during June in San Joaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A., and displays good eating qualities as a table grape. The fruit meatiness and firmness renders the fruit amenable for handling, shipping, and storage.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Vitis viniferaGrapevine.

Variety denomination: The new Grapevine has a varietal denominationARRATWENTYFOUR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A breeding program was initiated during the late 90's near Bakersfieldin San Joaquin Valley of Central California. In 2004, during thisbreeding program, a new variety of Vitis vinifera was created bydeliberate cross breeding of two parent plants by emasculation of thepollen bearing organ of the female and introducing pollen from anothermale origin. The female parent of the new variety was GSB5, amedium-sized black almost seedless grape variety with a fleshy textureand a natural flavor (non-patented in the United States). The maleparent (i.e. the pollen parent) of the new variety was GRW3, a vigorousblack variety with a crisp texture and a natural flavor (non-patented inthe United States).

TABLE 1 Comparison of ARRATWENTYFOUR with its parents and the closestrelated variety: Summer Royal (Comparison ARRATWENTYFOUR GSB5 GRW3Variety) Berry Medium Good Very Good Good attachment Berry size 20-2220-22 18-22 18-20 Bunches 32 32-36 32 42 per vine Bunch Semi tight TightMedium Slightly loose Density

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:

GSB5 X GRW3

An artificial pollination was created, and the result was an embryowhich possessed unique genetic qualities. The rudiments resulting fromthe above pollination were embryo rescued.

In 2006 the plant was transplanted to Bakersfield in San Joaquin Valleyof Central California.

It was found that the new grapevine of the present invention possessesthe following combination of characteristics:

(a) Forms attractive moderately firm seedless berries with apurple-black skin coloration; in semi-tight clusters which display anaturally sweet flavor,

(b) Commonly bears fruit during the month of June in the San JoaquinValley of Central California, U.S.A., and

(c) Bears fruit that is moderately firm and is amenable for storage,handling, and shipping.

The new variety during observation to date has displayed no visibledisease, and has displayed an ability to well resist cold, drought,heat; but sensitive to direct exposure to sun and wind. The fruit of thenew variety has been found to display qualities suitable for handlingand shipping combined with desirable dessert eating qualities.

The new variety of the present invention has been found to undergoasexual propagation beginning in 2006 near Bakersfield in the SanJoaquin Valley of Central California, U.S.A. by bud grafting on matureThompson rootstock (non-patented in the United States). Such asexualpropagation was conducted successively from 2006 until 2007 for a totalof two growing seasons, and has shown that the characteristics of thenew variety are strictly transmissible from one generation to another.Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true totype manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety ARRATWENTYFOUR is a purple-black seedless table grapewith medium production, e.g., about 32 bunches per vine, and an averageof about one to two bunches per shoot.

Asexual reproduction by micro propagation of the new variety asperformed near Bakersfield, Calif., U.S.A., shows that the forgoing andother distinguishing characteristics come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens ofvegetative growth of six year old specimens of the new variety, in coloras nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in a colorillustration of this character. Colors in the photograph may differ fromthe color values cited in the detailed botanical description below,which accurately describes the colors of the new Grapevine.

FIG. 1 shows leaves, stems and grapes of ‘ARRATWENTYFOUR’

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is The R.H.S. ColourChart of The ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 3rd edition, 1995. Thedescription is based on the observation of plants growing on ‘ThompsonSeedless’ rootstock outdoors near San Joaquin Valley of CentralCalifornia, U.S.A.

-   Vine:    -   -   Vigor.—Vigorous upright shoots.        -   Productive capacity.—Bearing at a natural, average capacity.            Spur pruning.        -   Trunk.—Strong and developed. Diameter ranges from 2″-2 ⅜″            (measured 9.2″ from ground). Rough with a fibrous, shaggy            exterior. Light maple brown coloring. RHS: grayed orange            177-B.-   Time of bud burst:    -   -   Early.—February 20^(th) in Bakersfield, Calif.-   Young shoot:    -   -   Openness of tip.—Fully open.        -   Prostrate hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of prostrate hairs on            tip.—Absent/very weak (yellow-green 144A).        -   Erect hairs on tip.—Absent or very sparse.-   Young leaf:    -   -   Color of upper side of blade.—Yellow-green 152A.        -   Prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side of            blade.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Erect hairs on main veins on lower side of blade.—Absent or            very sparse.-   Shoot:    -   -   Attitude (before tying).—Semi-erect.        -   Color of dorsal side of internodes.—Green and red (yellow            green 144 C and greyed red).        -   Color of ventral side of internodes.—Green (yellow green 144            C).        -   Color of dorsal side of nodes.—Green (yellow green 146 C).        -   Color of ventral side of nodes.—Green (yellow green 146 C).        -   Erect hairs on internodes.—Absent or very sparse.        -   Length of tendrils.—Long.        -   Color of tendrils.—Yellow green 145A.        -   Number of tendrils.—2.-   Flower:    -   -   Sexual organs.—Reflexed stamens and fully developed            gynoecium.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Organ described.—Stamen.        -   Color.—Yellow green 144B.        -   Size.—0.0147″.-   Mature leaf:    -   -   Size of blade.—Medium 7.5″×8″.        -   Shape of blade.—Wedge-shaped.        -   Blistering of upper side of blade.—Medium.        -   Number of lobes.—Five.        -   Depth of upper lateral sinuses.—Medium.        -   Arrangement of lobes of upper lateral sinuses (only            varieties with lobed leaves).—Slightly overlapped.        -   Arrangement of lobes of petiole sinus.—Wide open.        -   Length of teeth.—Medium.        -   Ratio length\ width of teeth.—Medium.        -   Shape of teeth.—Both sides straight.        -   Proportion of main veins on upper side of blade with            anthocyanin coloration.—High (yellow green 152B).        -   Prostrate hairs between main veins on lower side of            blade.—Sparse.        -   Erect hairs on main veins on lower side of blade.—Sparse.        -   Length of petiole compared to length of middle vein.—Much            shorter.        -   Top side color.—Green 137 B.        -   Bottom side color.—Yellow green 146 D.        -   Texture.—Slightly rough.        -   Vein color.—Yellow green 145 C.        -   Petiole length.—4.5″.        -   Petiole color.—Yellow green 152A.        -   Leaf base.—Cordate.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.-   Time of beginning of ripening:    -   -   Mid.—June 1^(st) in Bakersfield, Calif.-   Bunch:    -   -   Size (peduncle excluded).—Medium.        -   Density.—Medium.        -   Length of peduncle of primary bunch.—Short 2.3″.        -   Diameter of peduncle of primary bunch.—0.327″.        -   Average bunch weight.—1.8 lbs.-   Berry:    -   -   Size.—Large.        -   Length.—0.9″.        -   Weight.—0.21 oz.        -   Diameter.—0.8″.        -   Shape.—Broad ellipsoid.        -   Color of skin (without bloom).—Dark red violet (black 202A).        -   Ease of detachment from pedicel.—Moderately easy.        -   Thickness of skin.—Thin.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of flesh.—Weak.        -   Berry flesh color.—Greyed green 192A.        -   Firmness of flesh.—Moderately firm.        -   Particular flavor.—None.        -   Formation of seeds.—Rudimentary.        -   Market use of observed plant.—Fresh market.        -   Berries per bunch.—90-120.-   Pendicle:    -   -   Length.—0.7″.        -   Diameter.—0.08″.        -   Color.—Green 138B.-   Woody shoot:    -   -   Main color.—Orange brown (grayed orange 164 B).-   Age and growing conditions: Six years growing under Y system in    South Joaquin Valley (hot, dry summers).-   Shipping characteristics: (E.g. number of days fruit has been stored    under specific conditions): Fruit was in cold storage. Stored in    polyethylene bags inside Styrofoam boxes with sulfur pads. After 30    Days: rachises were 50% green; 2% berry shattering; no berry    wrinkling or cracks were apparent.

DNA PROFILE

To further the characterize the new ARRA variety DNA was extracted fromdried leaf samples and DNA profiles were obtained at California Seed &Plant Lab, California USA using base pairs for 8 standard microsatelliteDNA markers. The data is presented hereafter.

TABLE 2 DNA profile for ‘ARRATWENTYFOUR’: Microsatellite DNA MarkerAllele Sizes in Base Pairs M1  226 232 M2  249 249 M3  179 179 M4  212216 M5  273 273 M6  135 149 M7  187 187 M8  255 255 M9  211 214 M10 247271

The ARRATWENTYFOUR variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensityand duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

Resistance or susceptibility to specific plant and fruit diseases andpests have not been observed to date. The plant hardiness zone andheat/cold resistance are not known.

The ARRATWENTYFOUR variety is relative productive, producing 32 bunchesper vine, at a total of 58 lbs. of fruit per vine.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct grapevine, botanically knownas Vitis vinifera, identified as ‘ARRATWENTYFOUR’, substantially asshown and described herein.